If you are taking individual supplements of Vitamins A, C, or E, it is recommended that you obtain the necessary quantities of those vitamins from the VisiVite alone. If, however, you take a multi-vitamin, such as Centrum, you can continue to take that. In fact, approximately half of the patients in the AREDS study continued to take their multi-vitamins.

Patients often confuse taking low-dose multiple vitamins, such as Centrum Silver or One-A-Day, as being beneficial in treating their macular degeneration. The levels of supplement are much higher in VisiVite Formulas than in other vitamin supplements. Additionally, VisiVite contains only those substances that were scientifically proven to promote retinal health.

All VisiVite Formulas are taken as one capsule twice daily. It is important to continue to take VisiVite continuously. The AREDS study required a follow-up of 6 years to demonstrate clinical efficacy.

Prior to the ground-breaking AREDS study published by the National Eye Institute in 2001, no other study showed benefit to treating macular degeneration with nutritional supplements. Because in the more than 600 studies prior to AREDS, the dosages were not high enough to have any benefit against retinal degeneration. In order to have any effect against the disease, the dosages had to be much higher than initially presumed.

Macular Degeneration treatment was evaluated in the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), a major study sponsored by the National Eye Institute, one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health, and conducted at 11 major medical center research facilities around the country. In that study, ingredients that are identical to those in VisiVite Original Formula were found to slow the progression of macular degeneration in those patients with intermediate or advanced disease.

While it is unlikely that the ingredients found in VisiVite will interfere with your other prescription medications, you should notify your primary physician before taking large-dose supplements.

VisiVite Original Formula duplicates the ingredients in the National Eye Institute's Age Related Eye Disease Study. But Lutein was not available at the time of that study, and is found in VisiVite i-Defense Yellow, Red, Gold and Green Formulas. Beta-carotene was shown in two large studies to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Therefore, VisiVite i-Defense Red and Green Formulas contain no Beta-carotene for people who have habitually smoked within the past 20 years.

VisiVite Formulas are considered vitamin supplements, and not drugs, and therefore cannot claim clinical effectiveness in treating a particular disease. Wet macular degeneration is not caused by blood vessels leaking. Rather, it is caused by formation of abnormal, fragile blood vessels due to oxidative damage. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and works against the formation of these "neovascular" vessels.

Do take vitamin C daily, plus a good hypo allergenic vitamin/mineral capsule and essential fatty acids (EFA's), like those found in flax oil, vegetable oils like olive - black currant - safflower - sunflower - sesame - evening primrose oil and fish oils. Cod liver oil is good for you but it's NOT the same thing.

Absorption may vary with individuals and types of medication. Certain drug problems may arise depending on the type of ostomy you have and the medications you are taking. Make sure all your healthcare providers know the type of ostomy you have and the location of the stoma. This information will help your pharmacist and other healthcare providers monitor your situation (i.e., time-released and enteric coated medications may pass through the system of ileostomates too quickly to be effective).